Server lists have it's place and I hate how many current multiplayer games don't expose it (they most definetly have it for development purposes).

But most people playing these competetive games want a rank to compare themselves and also be able to rank up. They also want to be placed in a match according to their skill group eithout wauting for someone to leave. A server list isn't compatible with those features.

At least that's what I gathered from people online and my friends who were opposed to messing around in a private lobby. Luckily CS:2 will most definetly have private server support with server lists and mods.